Girdle and combination girdle brassiere



April 7, 1936. Y, TQWEY 2,036,510

GIRDLE AND COMBINATION GIRDLE BRASSIE'RE Filed Feb. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO RNEY April 1936. Y. TOWEY GIRDLE AND COMBINATION GIRDLE BRASSIERE Filed Feb. 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v v INVENTOR i/mrewe 70/46') ATTORNEY April 7, 1936.

Y. TOWEY GIRDLE AND COMBINATION GIRDLE BRASSIIIRE Filed Feb. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. i936- ,tt,it

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This invention relates to corsets, girdles and other foundation garments for women and has for its object to provide a garment of this type with improved fastening means operable with minimum effort and adapted by following the contour of the body at the groin to avoid discomfort to the wearer and give the figure a smooth non-bulging line whichafiords a proper fundation for outer garments in all positions of the body.

Garments of the type referred to are commonly constructed in the form of a circular band having an opening extending from top to bottom, or sometimes only part way down the side, with laces, buttons, hooks and eyes, or separable slide fasteners of the zipper type connecting the meeting edges to enable the garment to be drawn on and off. Slide type fasteners have certain ad vantages over buttons and the like, notably in speed of operation, but as heretofore employed they also have certain disadvantages which it my object to avoid.

Heretofore slide fasteners, like other garment closures, have been arranged on a substantially vertical line as viewed on the figure, hence the maximum stress in opening and closing the fastener is practically at right-angles to the waistline. At best this line of movement is awkward from the standpoint of the wearer, and in actual practice the dificulty of operation is further increased by the fact that the fastener tends to bunch and buckle and thereby form little bumps and hollows which frequently offer an impassable barrier to the slider unless it is maneuvered with both hands. This bunching of the rather stifi fastener likewise forms an unsightly bulge through the outer clothing, and it is also one of the principal causes of the garment hitching up or changing its position on the body. The hitch= ing as well as the bumps can also cause ccnsiderable discomfort to the wearer.

il'hese difiiculties with vertically disposed slide fasteners are present whether the fastener be the side, or vertically of the front, and are ac centuated as the wearer sits down and stands up, or relaxes in either posture. Another diificulty, especially in a girdle type of garment, with or without attached brassiere, is undue strain in closing the fastener over the portion of maximum circumference, such as around the hips and buttocks. Such strains may either spread the slider and thus require replacement, or otherwise damage the fastener. To avoid this, it has been proposed to use a transverse strap located on the garment at this region to pull and hold front.

the fastener stringers adjacent each other before starting to close the slider.

According to this invention, I dispose the slide fastener closed opening at one side of the central vertical line and inclined thereto at such angle as generally shown in the drawings so that the fastener follows the surface of the groin. Thereby, it closes more readily under less cross tension, does not buckle so much in sitting position, either at groin or waist line, and on combination garments doesnot buckle at the top under the arm, as it does between the busts when applied vertically centrally.

Eliminating the tendency to bulge tends to eliminate riding up of the garment on the body, which after all is the reason foundation garments ride up or change their position on the body.

These and other important features and advantages of the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l. is a front view of a foundation garment embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the fastener in open position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section looking at the interior or lining of the front section;

t is a front view of the garment as worn by a model;

Hg. 5 is a front view of a modified foundation garment embodying the invention;

6 is a broken View looking at the interior or liniri'g of the front section of said garment;

. 7 is a front view of another foundation H garment embodying the invention;

Fig. 8 is a broken view showing the interior of the front section of said garment;

Fig. 9 is a front View of a combination corset and brassiere embodying the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a side view thereof.

The foundation garment or corset shown in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises an inelastic front section or panel i cut in the form of a V which corresponds in a general way to the line of the groin and is stitched at the sides to the elastic fabric 2 which extends aroundthe sides and back of the garment. Garter strapst are stitched to the lower edge of the garment in the usual manner.

Front section I1 is preferably made of inelastic material in order to give it rigidity and mold the figure accordingly. Stifiening means comprising light stays i may be embodied in front section i to increase the flattening effect across the The circumferential pull of elastic ms. 1

2 terial 2 holds section 8 firmly against the body so as to confine and support the abdomen in any position the wearer may assume.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. front section I has a slit or opening which extends from the upper edge of the garment inwardly to a point adjacent the center and follows a slanting or diagonal line which conforms generally with the contour or line of the groin. If this slanting line were continued far enough it would pass through the lower edge of the garment near the center thereof and at its upper end would approximately bisect a vertical line extending from the armpit to the hip bone. The adjacent edges of opening 5 are provided with cooperating separable fastener members 6 operated by slider l of the usual type. If desired in the construction illustrated one of the fiaps carries a strap 8 engageable with a hook 9 on the other flap, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to drawthe fiaps together and thus further facilitate the closing of the slide fastener, although in practice with this invention this strap has been found unnecessary.

The garment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is the same as that previously described except that the entire front section if! is made or inelastic material, with a central triangular elastice gore Ii at the bottom, while the rear section 52 is composed of elastic material. The front section in m y include stays d as previously described. The a moment of the separable fastener closure 6 and. slider l is the same as in Figs.'1 to 4.

The garment shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is constructed entirely of elasticjabric i3. The front portion is preferably provided with an interior reinforce or panel M composed of inelastic material adapted to cover the abdomen, this panel being provided stays if desired. The separable fastener closure 6 and slider l are arranged in panel M in the manner previously described.

The combination garment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 comprises a front corset section I5 of inelastic material, an upper brassiere portion i6 adapted to confine and support the busts, and a section ll of elastic material which extends around the sides and back of the garment and is stitched to the edges of front section i5 and brassiere i6. Shoulder straps I8 are secured to the upper edges of the brassire and rear section of the garment. The diagonal separable fastener closure 39 follows the natural rounded contour of the body from the region of the groin outwardly as previously described. The outer end of the closure is at the upper side edge of section I! where it approximately bisects a vertical line extending from the armpit to the hip bone. The exact length or inner terminus of the closure is unimportant, although if continued far enough the closure would pass through the lower edge of the garment near the center thereof. Closure is is operated by the usual slider 20.

In addition to the advantages of my garmentclosure combination pointed out above, another important advantage is that the angle of the closure is so scientifically correct that normal body pressure will not force the fastener open even when the wearer leaves it unlocked or partly open as often happens in actual use. Another important advantage is that my diagonal closure provides a bigger opening than an ordinary vertical side closure and hence gives more room where room is needed in drawing the garment on and off. Another advantage is that the wearer finds it much easier and more natural to raise and lower her hand in the diagonal path of the slider l or than to manipulate the slider in the awkward vertical path of the prior art. It has also been found in girdles, for example embodying this invention, that less boning or lighter boning produces the same control as the heavier boning heretofore required.

Various changes may be made in the foregoing details of construction and mode of application without departing from the scope and spirit of the. invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A girdle garment having a diagonal opening extending downwardly from the upper edge in substantial conformity with the line of the groin and slide operated fastener means for connecting the edges of said opening.

2. A girdle garment comprising an inelastic front section adapted to cover the abdomen and a connected body encircling portion containing elastic material for tensioning same on the body,

said front section having a diagonal opening extending downwardly from the upper edge in substantial conformity with the line of the groin, and slide operated fastener means for connecting the edges of said opening. 7

3. A combination garment comprising a combination girdle and attached brassiere, said garment having a diagonal opening extending downwardly from the upper edge in substantial conformity with the line of the groin and continuing upward to the edge of the brassiere adjacent the armpit, and slide operated fastening means for connecting the edges of said girdle and brassire opening.

4. A girdle garment having a diagonal opening extending downwardly and inwardly toward the front center of the garment at an angle to the horizontal line of strain and slide fastener means for opening and closing said opening.

YONOVERA TOWEY. 

